When you already have a loan taken out on your home, but the value of your home has since increased albeit from modifications to the home or even due to the local demand of homes in your area, the difference between what you owe and what your home is worth is known as the home’s equity and you can take a loan out using this extra value as the collateral for the loan.
Home equity loans are a great way of updating your home to make it more valuable or even to make a big purchase that you have been wanting. You can use this type of loan to purchase a car, boat or even a second smaller vacation style home.
In most cases you have heard the term second or third mortgage and what these are, are additional loans taken out using the home’s equity as collateral. Furthermore, you do not have to already have an outstanding loan in order to take out an equity loan, you can own the home in full because all that equity is, is the difference between any debts and its value.
When you take out a home mortgage, you are using the home as collateral, but you are not giving the home to the lender up front like most secured loans, but rather a representative for the lender will come to the final signing for the purchase of your home and trade the deed for the money. The lender though will only give you enough based on the property’s value and unless you are buying a home that is selling at 50% of its value, chances are that you will not receive any cash.
On the other hand, if you own your house in full and use it to take out a home equity loan, then you get the money in cash to spend how you see fit. You give the lender the deed to the home and the only way to get it back is by paying off the loan. Let’s say that you own your house in full, and although it is valued pretty high, you need to make some changes and additions to really get the most out of the home. In this case you will need to take out a home equity loan which comes in the form of cash and can be used to increase the value of the home. It does not matter if you are planning on selling the home after these improvement or continue to live in it, the point is that you are able to improve your home through the use of a home equity loan.
By: David Doyle
Archive for September, 2009
Why in the world would anybody want home equity loans, no income verification required? Simple, these loans are easy to obtain if you have good credit. When should you consider this type of loan and when should you avoid this type of loan? The answer to that question and more can be found below.
First, what is a home equity loan with no income verification? Basically this is a loan that does not require you to prove how much money you make. The downfall is your rate is going to be higher, they are harder to qualify for, and you will probably pay a bit more in fees to get this loan approved.
The upside is that if you are self employed, a tipped employee, or an independent contractor, then you will be able to get a home equity loan without the hassle of trying to prove what you really make each year. It can be difficult for these individuals to prove exactly what their real income is and this is why these no income verification loans exist.
The problem is that mortgage brokers have become greedy and they want your money. So what do they do? They use these no income verification home loans for people that cannot afford the conventional loan. They use them for people with good credit, but a very high debt to income ratio so that they can get the loan done.
This is not acting in the best interest of the client and is not good for you if you are considering this option. Home equity loans, no income verification required were meant for those that have trouble proving income, not those that can prove it and just don’t have enough for a traditional loan.
By: Gressly Stevens
It has been said that nearly 61% of businesses are launched with either private capital or capital that is invested into their business by family and friends but investment doesn’t have to stop with merely just your family and friends, which is why equity finance exists.
Equity finance is cash that is invested into your business in return for a share of your business. These investments of cash never have to be repaid and don’t have interest attached to them. Equity finance is true risk capital as there is no guarantee that the investor will get their money back at all and these investments are not tied to assets that can be removed from your business should it fail.
The way in which investors get a profit from their investment is the fact they have a share in your business. This share means that investors either get money that is generated either through a sale of the shares once the company has grown or through dividends, a discretionary payout to shareholders if the business does well.
There are several types of equity finance such as business angels and venture capitalists. Each type of equity finance varies in the amount of money that is available for investment and the process of completing the deal.
If your business can support a growth rate of a least 20% you are more likely to be able to get equity finance. If you can’t generate a growth rate of at least 20% in your business then you are unlikely to be able to gain equity finance. It is the idea of control and the prospect of higher returns if your business is successful that attracts people to invest in your business
Sadly however many people are still highly reluctant to seek the help of equity finance as they see the idea of it as ‘relinquishing control’ of their business. Many small businesses are especially reluctant if their business is growing fast. As a business owner you should ask yourself the following questions below making any decisions about choosing to use equity finance:
• Are you prepared to give up a share of your business as well as some of its control?
• Are you and your management team confident in the business and the products and services that are on offer?
• Does your business have a unique selling point?
• Do you have drive to grow your business?
• What industry experience and knowledge does your management team have?
You should also consider the following when it comes to obtaining equity finance:
• How much funding do you need?
• How much control are you hoping to retain?
• How long do you need your funds for?
Each business should investigate the options that are open to them when it comes to finance. Equity finance is medium to long term finance and is the perfect type of finance that is open to small businesses, especially if you are an entrepreneurial business. Entrepreneurial businesses are what private equity investors are mainly interested in. This is because they have aspirations and a high potential for growth.
If you are interested in the use of equity finance it is important that you speak to a financial team who can put you in touch with people who will be able to put you in touch with the right investors.
By: Helen Cox